Wheel flange oiler



June 16, 93?, P. H. HAMILTON WHEEL FLANGE OILER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 22, 1928 Patented .lune 16, 1931 UNirED PERRY E. HAMILTON', 0F EBALTMORE, MARYLAND, ASSEGNOR T@ MMNTENANGE EQUTLFMENT CMFANY, OF CMC'AGO, LLENUS, .d CORFRATXON 0F FLLINGS wanna starren errata applicati@ ala october ae, reas. serial raciales.

This invention relatesto new and useful improvements in wheel Bange oile'rs, and more particularly to improved oillspreading devices for distributing the oil evenly on the wheel flange and railhead.

Numerous devices have vbeen n projecting oil from a reservoir mounted adjacent the rail onto the ilange of a passing car wheel. ln one approved type of oiler, a pumping mechanism having a plunger which is depressed by the wheel flange upwardly from the reservoir onto lia-nge. An approved example of such an oiler is disclosed in thaw-pending application of Hamilton, Serial No. 262,452, iled March 17, 1928. The oil spreading devices forming the particular subject matter of this-present invention are desi ed particularly to coop erate with oil projecting devices of the type disclosed in said co-pendingapplication, although they are adaptable for use with other 4types of devices Jfor applying the oil to the wheel flange. Y

The principal object of the invention is to provide a wiping device which yieldably engages the inner surface of the wheel ange so as to spread oil thathas been projected onto the flan e evenly around the entire periphery of the ange.

Another object is to provide troughs in connection with said wipin devices or catching surplus oil that is wipe from Aor dropped P so that this oil may be used from the flange',

again.

Another object is to provide means'or re taining oil that finds its way behind the wip-v ing device so that it may be squeezed out int engagement with the wheel ange.

Another obj ectis to provide means vfor suitably supporting said oil spreading devices adjacent the side of the r'ail head and between the spaced oil projecting devices.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description of certain approved forms of the apparatus.

In the accompanying drawings :v

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a series of oiling devices, with one approved form of provided for acts to project oil the Wheel,

- localized portions of the rail flange and spreading device interposed between the sev-v eral oilers.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the assembly shown in Fig.` 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. l is a perspective viewqof one of the spreaders, as used in Figs. 1, .2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section showing a modification.

Figi 6 is a' view similar to Figs. 3 and 5 showing another modication. 'j l Fig. is a transverse vertical section showlng a worn tra'ck rail on a curve, illustrating the principles uponufwhich this present invention is'based. l l At A., B, and C in Figs. 1 and 2 are indi'- cated three of a'series of oil-projecting de- 'vices whichare positioned at spaced intervals at its rear side to the supporting plate or bar 4 which is shaped to t between the head 5 and base flange 6 of the rail 1, and secured in place by bolts 7 passing through the web of the rall. Within the reservoir is positined an oil pumping mechanism compris; ing a plunger 9 which projects up through a suitable opening in the cover plate and is ositioned in the path of the Wheel vflange 10 (see dotted lines, a wheel passes above plunger 9 will be dep mechanism will project oil upwardly through a suitable outlet passage, or passages 11 onto the oiling device, the

the inner surface of the wheel flange 10. In

the example here shown, the outlet assages 11 are formed in a flan e 12, which projects up alongside the rail head so as to direct the oil pro'erly' onto the inner surface of the wheel ange.

It will be apparent that even though a plurality of these oiling devices are used as a series, positioned at spaced intervals alpng' ess the rail, the oil will be applied to more or .u

w1 have 'to be distributed thereon by rubbing wagainst the rail head as the wheel rotates. .y

ressed and the pumping,

Fig. 3) so that when j It has beenl found that the inner surface of a rail on a curve will become curve worn, as indicated at 13 in Fig; 7, and that with .the aid of such a worn rail a better distribution ofpoil is gained, due to the greater area of contact with the side of the wheel flange, as shown in Fig. 7 Where a full ball new rail is used, as shown for example in Figs. 3, 5,-and 6, there is very little smearing or spreading effect on the wheel flange, due to the small area of side contact between the flange and rail. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary means for spreading the oil on the wheel flanges after they have passed over the oiling devices, and for some distance beyond the oiling device.

A simple example of a means for performing this function is shown in Fig. 5. A plate 14 is shaped at 15 and 16 to fit between the base flange and head of the rail, and is secured to the web of the rail by means of bolts 17 or other suitable fastening devices. The plate. 14 is provided with a flange 18 which projects up Valong the inner side of the rail head 5, the surface of flange 18 adjacent the rail flange 10 being beveled, as shown at 19, to correspond to the'worn surface 13 of a curve wornrail as illustrated in Fig. 7. This inclined surface 19 will engage the greater portion of the inner surface of wheel flange 10 and serve tol spread the' oil' along the flange.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6, a -supporting plate 20 is secured by bolt 21 between the rail base and rail head. A pair of yieldable metal strips or plates 22 and 23 are riveted together at 24, and the wider plate 22 is secured to supporting plate 20 by screws or other means, as indicated at 25. The plate 22 is bowed outwardly and then curved inwardly toward the rail head 5 so as to form a wiper plate 26 adapted to engage yieldably against the inner surface of the wheel flange 10. The'other plate 23 is curved outwardly beneath the wheel flange so as to form together with plate 22, a trough for holding the surplus oil which is squeezed offer drops from the wheel flange. This oil will be picked up by other portions of the wheel, or other wllieel flanges, so as to minimize the waste of o1 In the form of the invention shown applied in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and shown ydetached in perspective in Fig. 4, a metal plate is bent to form a wiper flange 27, which engages yieldably against the inner surface of the car wheel flange 10. This flange 27 will be of sufficient length to extend substantially from the oil outlet flange 12 of one oil projecting deviceto the corresponding flange 12 of the next adjacent device, all as indicated in Figs. 1 and-.2. The lower portion of the flange 27 may rest upon the cQve` plates 3 of adjacent oilers. The central portion 28 of this spreading means is shorter than the flange 27 and substantially equal in length to the distance between two adjacent reservoirs 2. This portion 28 comprises a downwardly extending flange 29, a horizontal flange 30 and an upwardly extending flange 31, thus forming a trough for catching the oil that drops from the wheel flange. The ends of the horizontal flange 3() may be extended, as indicated at 32, these projections 32 being inserted between the top of reservoir 2 and its cover plate 3, so as to hold the spreading device in place.

An additional spring flange 33 may be attached to the rear of flange 27 and project into engagement with the lower portion of the side of the railhea-d 5 thus forming a pocket which is closed at the ends by the overlapping end flanges 35 and 36 turned respectively from the flanges 27 and 33. Oil that finds its way behind the flange 27 will be entrapped in the pocket 34, and as the flange 27 is sprung in by the engagement therewith of wheel flange 10 theoil will be squeezed out through the several openings or notches 37 provided in the upper edge of ange 27.

As a further modification, means (such as the plunger-operated feeder device disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2) might be used for forcing oil directly into the pocket 34 behind the spreader flange. This oil would flow out through the notches 37, and wouldalso be squeezed out by the passing car wheel flange as it pressed in the spreader flange 27.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive is particularly adaptable for use between adjacent units of a series of oilers positioned at spaced intervals along the track. The forms shown in Figs. 5 and 6 may be used either between the Oilers, or for any suitable distance beyond these oiling devices.

Preferably the series of oiling devices will be positioned some little distance in advance of a curve or switch-point, and a suitable number of these spreading devices will be positioned along the rail beyond the oiling devices to insure a complete spreading of the oil on the wheel flange before the wheel reaches the curve or switch point.

It will be apparent that these oil-spreading devices could be used in combination with any suitable approved form of means for initially projecting the oil into ontov the wheel flange or railhead, although the form here shown diagrammatically by way of example, and shown more in detail in my prior pending application hereinabove referred to, has been found to cooperate most satisfactorily with these spreading devices. While certain approved forms of the oil spreading devices have been here shown and described by way of example, it will be apparent that many changes in design and proportions will asiatica be possible without departing from the llange, said devices sing principles of this invention as set forth in the claims which follow. rllhe wheel-engaging spring flanges of the spreading plates or wipers, as shown in the preferred forms of the invention, insure a substantially constant contactwith the inner surface of the wheel flange as the wheel passes thereover, whereby a maximum spreading edect is obtained.

l claim:

l. An Oil spreader for wheel iange Oilers, comprising a plate extending longitudinally of the rail and inclined to substantially lit against the and means for supporting the plate at the side of the railhead.

2. An oil spreader for wheel ange Oilers, comprising a yieldable plate extending longitudinally of the rail and inclined to substantially t against the inner surface of the wheel flange, and means for supporting the plate at the side of the railhead.

3. An oil spreader for wheel :dange Oilers, comprising a plate formed of spring metal inclined to substantiall lit against the inner surface of the wheel f angehand means forv supporting the plate at the side of the railhead.

e. An Oil spreader for wheel flange Oilers, comprising a wiping plate adapted to engage the inner surface of the wheel flange and a trough to catch surplus oil, and means for supporting the plate and trough at the side of the railhead.

5. An oil spreader for wheel fla-nge oilers,.

comprising a yieldable wipingV plate adapted to engage the inner surface of the wheel flange and a trough to catch surplus oil, and means for supporting the .plate and trough at the side of the railhead.

6. rEhe combination with a plurality of devices for projectin oil against the car wheel positioned at spaced intervals along one si e of the rail, of oil spreaders adapted to be interposed between the projecting devices, each spreader coinprising a wiper plate extending longitudinally of the rail and adapted to engage the inner surface of the car wheel flange.

'l'. The combination with a plurality of devices for projectin oil against the car wheel ange, said devices ein@ positioned at spaced intervals along one side of therail, of oil spreaders adapted to be interposed between the projecting devices, each spreader comprising a yieldable wiper plate extending longitudinally of the rail and adapted to engage the inner surface of thecar wheel flange.

8. The combination with-a plurality of devices for'projecting oil against the car wheel `flange, said devices being positioned at spaced intervals along one side of the rail, of koil spreaders adapted to be interposed between the projecting devices, each spreader comprising a wiper plate formedxof spring metal,

inner surface of the wheel ange,

and means for supporting the plates between the projecting devices.

9. The combination with a plurality of devices for projecting oil against the car wheel ange, said devices being positioned at spaced intervals along one side of the rail, of oil spreaders adapted to be interposed between the projecting devices, each spreader being formed of a metal plate bent to form a sp-ring wiper adapted to engage the inner surface of the rail,1 and a' trough for catching surplus oil, and means for supporting the spreader between the oil-projecting devices..

l0. The combination with a plurality of devices for projecting oil against the car wheel flange, said devices being positioned at spaced intervals along one side ofthe rail, each oil-projectingdevice comprising a reservoir. and a cover plate therefor, of Oil spreaders adapted to be interposed between the several projecting'devices, each spreader being formed of a metal plate bent to form a spring wiper ada ted to engage the inner surfaces of the rai a trough for catching surplus oil, and a pair of oppositely projecting :flanges each adapted to be interposed between the reservoir and cover plate of the adjacent oil projecting device.

l1. An oil spreader for wheel ange Oilers, `comprisin a spring plate inclined to substantially t against the inner surface of the i wheel flange at theside of the railhead, and

lll@

the plate may be squeezed out as the plate is sprung inwardly by a wheel ldange.

13. ln combination with'` means for projecting oil from a reservior, an oil spreader comprising a spring plate inclined to subA stantially lit against the inner surface of the lll@ wheel Harige at the side of the railhead, and;

means behind the plate for storing oil provided bythe projecting device, this oil being expelled at the upper edge of the plate whenv the spring plate is forced inwardly by pressure imposed by a passing car wheel flange. 14,- ln combination with means forprojecting oil from a reservoir, an oil spreader comprising a spring plate inclined to substantially lit against the inner surface of the wheel ange at the side of the railhead, and means behind the plate for storing oil provided by the projecting device', there being a pluralit of openings formed in the upper portion o the vplate through which this oil is expelled as the plate is forced inwardly by pressure imposed by a passing carl wheel iange.

l5. An oil spreader for wheel Bange Oilers,

p ing surplus oil.

comprising a wiper plate adapted to be mounted at one side of the railheadwso as to extend longitudinally of the rail, said plate tapering upwardly and inwardly toward the rail so as to substantially lit between the railhead and inner surface of the wheel flange.

16. An oil spreader for wheel lia-nge oilers, comprising a supporting member mounted at the side of the rail, and a pair of metal plates secured together and to the supporting member, one of the plates being bent upwardly and inwardly to form a yieldable wiper engaging the inner surface oi the wheel flange, and the other plate being bent outwardly to form a trough beneath the ange for catch- PERRY- H. HAMILTON. 

